While it’s good news the Government has found a much cheaper alternative to Cross-River Rail, before committing billions of dollars to an underground rail and bus network (see this morning’s Courier-Mail report), the Government should ensure it has fully considered transport demand management options to ease congestion. Some of these measures may well avoid or defer the need for new infrastructure in the short to medium-term. Such measures could include:

optimising train and bus fares so much higher fares are charged during peak times (e.g. 7-9am, 5-6pm) to encourage people to travel outside of these peak times;

congestion charging for travel in the CBD, as recommended by the Henry tax review, with higher rates during peak times to reduce congestion;

staggering the start and finish times of public servants (i.e. so not everyone comes in at 8-9am and leaves at 5-6pm), and encouraging private sector firms to do the same, as discussed by me in Increased train frequency unviable; and

Fares are already high, we don’t need to pay more, especially when many people have no say in their work start and finish times. It would of been fine for the government in conjunction with the private sector to build a proper Cross River Rail as the demand will be there. We don’t know if the alternative will be adequate, were as the CRC allows for a huge expansion of the rail network.

New industrial estates should consider allotting a portion to multi-housing so that workers travelling expenses are negated instead of developing dwellings in far flung areas thus placing strain on infrastructure costs.